Pop-up spud wrench



Sepfi- 1945- c. s. BEVERLY 2,384,525

POP-UP SPUD WRENCH Filed Nov. 4, 1944 INVENTbR. @2561) J. BEVERLY ATTOZPNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,384,525POP-UP sron wnsncn Charles S. Beverly, Brooklyn, N. Y;

Application November 4, 1944, Serial No. 561,909

3 Claims.

This invention relates to tools, and aims to provide a novel and usefultool to assist in the dismantling of the housing ofa pop-up valve suchas is commonly in use in the drains of bath room basins as well as otherwater receptacles. The tool may also be termed a spud wrench.

In the absence of a suitable tool such as that herein presented, it isthe common practice of plumbers to insert a screw driver or the likethrough one of the drain openings into the side of the valve housing torestrain the housing from rotation while a tool such as a wrench isapplied to the lock nut under the basin, in order to remove the valvehousing. This practice usually results in deforming or scratching of theseat of the pop-up valve so that when the unit is reassembled the valvewill not sit snugly on its seat, whence the valve fails to provide awatertight plug in the basin so that it thereafter becomes impossible tokeep the basin filled with water. The tool of this invention permits ofholding the valve housing against rotation without in any way injuringthe valve seat.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the followingdescription, wherein characters of reference refer to like numberedparts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing isintended for the purpose of illustration only, and that it is neitherintended nor desired to limit the invention in any manner to thespecific details of construction shown excepting insofar as they may bedeemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefiy to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the barrel constituting one of the twocooperating members of the tool.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hook-shaped member constituting theother of the said operating members.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pop-up drain valvehousing per se.

Fig. 4 is an axial vertical sectional view through a bathroom basin,showing the tool in position for tightening or loosening the lock nut ofthe housing.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l6 indicates a toolmember comprising a shank having a right-angled lower extremity ortongue |2. As shown, the shank H and tongue |2 are rectangular incross-section.

The barrel l3, which is cylindrical in outline, has an axial opening I lextending therethrough, and at its lower end has a radial cut-out |5exopening I 4. The opening I4 and cut-out l5 are also shown rectangularin cross-section.

The basin l6 illustrated in Fig. 3 is intended simply to aid in anunderstanding of the function of the tool and is not intendedtruly torepresent a standard basin structure. Such basins have an inner wall I1and an outer wall l8 enclosing an overflow compartment or passage 19into which overflow water enters through the overflow vent or opening 20in the basin wall IT.

The drain opening 2| passes down through both walls l1 and I8, and thedrain valve housing or spud 22 rests in the drain opening. This housingis provided with a flange 23 which provides the seat for the pop-upvalve, not shown. The lower end of the housing 22 is threaded, and alock nut 24 secures the housing in the drain opening 2| in an obviousmanner. The drain pipe 25 is secured to the housing 22 either directlyor through a further connection, not shown.

Ordinarily, it is necessary upon occasion to remove the pipe 25 or thehousing 22 for the purpose of cleaning out accumulated sediment or othermaterial clogging the drain. It is apparent that difiiculty would beencountered were it desired to loosen the nut 24, since the housing 22is free to rotate within the drain opening 2|. This tendency is presentespecially after the device has been long in use, owing to corrosion,etc.

The housing 22 is provided with a plurality of side openings 26therethrough, through which overflow water in the compartment l9 flowsdown the drain. These openings are usually rectangular, as shown. Thetool of this invention serves to restrain the housing 22 from rotatingwhile a wrench is applied to the nut 24 to loosen the latter or viceversa, in the following manner: The member ID is inserted into the drainopening 2| with the tongue at the bottom, and is moved to register thetongue |2 in one of the openings 26. This is possible since the overalllength of the tongue I2 is less than the diameter of the drain opening2|. The barrel I3 is then slipped over the shank II and allowed to drop,and it is then inserted into the drain opening, in which it fits rathersnugly, the member Ill meanwhile adjusting its position laterally andautomatically, as is obvious. Thus the tongue is positioned through anopening 26 in the housing 22 and the barrel I3 sits snugly in theopening 2|, resting on the tongue l2 which also registers in the barrelcut-out l5.

If now a small wrench, pliers, or the like is tending into andcommunicating with the axial applied to the shank while the nut 24 isbeing opening or bore I4 and the shank ll may be; of any cross-sectionother than the. rectangu lar or square form shown, includingcylindrical," and there may also be play between the; shank l l and thewalls of the bore M. The essential feature of the barrel I3 is that itmaintains the tongue l2 in position in the opening 26 and, stabilizesthe entire member I0, so that the shank may be held as above describedwhile the nut 24 is being turned. Without the barrel l3 the member lwould wobble and be diflicult to hold firm, and pressure of the shankagainst the upper inner edge of the drain flange or valve seat 23 wouldresult with consequent injury to the valve seat.

Iclaim:

1. A tool of the class described and for the 5 purpose set forth,comprising a shank having the lower extremity thereof bent at rightangles thereto to form a tongue, a barrel having an axial opening ofsubstantially the same lateral dimensions as said shank, said shankbeing slidably Q registrable in said barrel opening, said barrel havinga radial cut-out through the lower end thereof communicating with saidaxial opening, .i said radial cut-out being of substantially the samecross-sectional dimensions as said tongue, said tongue projectingthrough and registering in said cut-out when said barrel rests upon saidtongue with said shank passing through said barrel opening.

2. The tool set forth in claim 1, said axial opening and said shankbeing rectangular in crosssection.

3. The tool set forth in claim 1, said cut-out and said tongue beingrectangular in cross-section.

CHARLES S. BEVERLY.

